Metal coating machine



y 2-5, 1943- w. P. LOHRMAN 2,319,817

METAL COATING MACHINE I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 3, 1940 May 25, 1943. w. P. LOHRMAN METAL COATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3, 1940 F I E- 2- with molten tin vide sheet metal PatentecI'May ZS, 194s 'uNirEo i STATES PATENT I OFFICE v innit-e533: A v

William 1'. lnhrman, New Castle, 1;; 9 Applies-ha ling: 3234:; y I v I I This invention relates to metal coating machines and more particularly to those which coat sheet metal with tin, although not limited there- In providing sheet metal with heavy metallic coatings considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining the desired results. This is particularly true in providing metallic sheets with a heavy coating of tin, for example, of theorder of two and one-half pounds per base box (112 sheets) which is known tin plate. In the commercial manufacture of this produce redipping in molten tin was resorted to in order to attain the desired weight of coating. More recently the redipping step was eliminated and the exit rolls of the tin pot. were made to run in shallow pans which were filled with molten tin. These pans were filled main body of the molten tin and the pouring of the same into the shallow pans. when the metal was dipped by hand it was not possible 'to maintain a constant levelthereby effecting irregularity in the amount of coating applied to the sheet metal. In addition, it was not possible to provide the shallow pans with a supply of pure tin as in the tinning operation considerable impurities, commonly referred to as scruff, are formed. and this floats on molten tin to be picked up by the manual dipper, thereby resulting in the contamination of the tin supply in the shallow pans with the consequent result that the scruff wouldsettle on the coating.

it is an object ofthe present invention to prowith even heavy metallic coatings of a relatively pure metal.

the exit rolls of Another object is to apply to a tin pot a constant quantity of relatively pure tin. 1

Still another The invention, then, comprisesthe features hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out tain, and the annexed drawings setting forth in Figure 2 is a vertical elevation taken at 90 I from the view of Figure ,1; 3

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail;

e 4 is a fragmentary view of a detail, partof which is shown in section; and

Figure Referring more cularly to by manual dipping from the object is the attainment of the foregoing in a simple and inexpensive manner.

in the claims. the following descripa vertical elevation of the machine in the trade as "charcoal I rolls 6 are maintained bottom with a supply the numeral 2 generally designatesa tin pot of more or less conventional design except for the provision of the apparatus of the present. invention which will be referred to hereinafter. This conventional 2 is provided adjacent its 4 ofrelatively pure tin maintained at the desired level. Disposed withinthetinpotl isaseries of suitably drivenpairsof rolls 6 which advance the sheet metal to be coated through the supply 4 of tin and upwardly 'out ot the tin pot 2.. Therefore, some of the within the supply '4 of molten tin whereas the remainder thereof are disposed above the same at suitable elevations progressively out of the tin pot 2. The exit rolls -of the conventional tin pot 2 are conventional in proximately the same horizontal elevation as the surface of the" detail a certain illustrative erribodi'ment'of the .inventiomthis being indicative, of but one of the 5 is afragmmtary schematic elevation. v

the drawing be note that there is provided a skimmer box shaft 24 of one of the rolls 6 the funnel II, a boxJi from which there is supplied by means of a connecting pipe I! molten tin at a constant rate of feed. In order to accomplish this end the shaft 20 of one of the exit rolls 8 is provided with an outboard extension to which there is connected a sprocket 22. The which is maintained below the level of the tin supply 4 is provided with. a corresponding outboard extension to which there is secured a sprocket it. The sprockets 22 and 28 are connected by means of a suitable drive chain 2,8. At suitable intervals there is connected to the drive chain 2} a series of suitably formed buckets II which are so'constructed and arranged as to provide for the reception of the molten tin, elevation thereof toa point above the box It and the dumping thereof into the said box. It will thus beseen that the proper correlated sizes and number of buckets 30 will result in the transfer to the box II of a supply of molten tin which will be suffi- -':;cient to maintain a level thereof within the M which will Referring more particularly to mare 2, it will tion, as defined by the following claim.

ing at a point where the buckets 30 leave the molten tin. Consequently the tin supply to the buckets II is relatively pure.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the i'nven- I claim: A a

A machine for applying a metal coating to metal sheets and the like, comprising a pot con"- taining a molten metal bath, a pair of rolls horizon'tally disposed above the level or the molten metal bath, at least one pan extending beneath said rolls, said pan being adapted to contain sumcient molten meta1.to immerse the lower portion of the periphery of the rolls therein, a driven endless belt extending from beneath the level of the molten metal bath into proximity with respect to said pan, at least one bucket carried by said endless belt and constructed and arranged to transfer molten metal from the'bath into said pan; means for maintaining substantially constant the level of molten metal in said pan, and a wall isolating that area of the surface of the molten metal bath through which said bucket operates from the remainder thereof.

WILLIAM P. LOHRMAN. 

